The report of the European Commission (EC) on Montenegro recognized the efforts made by the Agency for the Protection of Competition (ACA) in order to fulfill its obligations in negotiations in the field of competition protection and control of state aid, said the President of the Council of the Agency, Dragan Damjanović.
He pointed out that this year's report praised the strengthening of administrative capacities through, among other things, the election of acting deputy directors of the Agency.
"Also, it was stated that harmonization with the legal acquis in terms of state aid control continued with the adoption of by-laws, while the decision on the prohibition of cartel association from last December was highlighted as a significant step forward in the field of law enforcement in the field of competition protection, as the first such example after eight years", Damjanović stated in the announcement.
He added that the Report underlined that the Agency in the field of state aid implemented activities focused on information and awareness raising, directed towards aid providers and judges, and that cooperation between AZK and state aid providers from the public administration system at the central and local level intensified.
Compared to the Report on Montenegro for last year, according to Damjanović, there was an increased number of decisions issued regarding concentrations on the market.
A large number of initiated proceedings for individual exemptions from the prohibition of the agreement were recorded, as well as several initiated proceedings for the investigation of potential infringement of competition and decisions related to state aid.
Damjanović said that, in general, despite the described progress when it comes to the work of AZK, chapter 8 - Competition is among the rare negotiation chapters for which the general assessment is that in the past period, there was no progress regarding the fulfillment of EC recommendations.
"We are aware of the challenges that lie ahead of us at the end of Montenegro's European path, we agree with Brussels' statements that more work needs to be done in order for the chapter in question to be closed within the deadline, and we appreciate the constructive criticism of the Commission, especially regarding the need for further strengthening cooperation between competent institutions at the national level", said Damjanović.
Referring to the previous steps taken by the Agency, he pointed out that they are also moving in the right direction when it comes to the work of the courts responsible for competition and state aid.
Damjanović indicated that work continued on new versions of the law on competition protection and control of state aid, which is mostly the responsibility of the ministries of economic development and finance, and that their adoption is expected in the period between the last and next EC reports.
He said that this is why the unexpectedly harsh tone with which what was achieved in negotiation chapter 8 at the level of the entire system was evaluated should serve as additional motivation for all involved institutions to make additional efforts until the publication of the next Report.
"Wouldn't the Report for Montenegro for the next year, when it comes to the chapter dedicated to competition policy, be the most positive since the beginning of the negotiation process, and wouldn't we work together to bring the Montenegrin standards related to competition and state aid into line with European ones as soon as possible, for the benefit of all citizens and business entities in our country", said Damjanović.
Bonus video:
